# 2016 Herald Sun Tour

The 2016 Herald Sun Tour was a road cycling stage race that took place in Victoria, Australia, between 3 and 7 February 2016. The race was rated as a 2.1 event as part of the 2016 UCI Oceania Tour.
The race included five stages: the first was a prologue individual time trial; the remaining four stages were road stages, including a summit finish at Arthurs Seat on the final day.
The champion of the 2015 Herald Sun Tour, Cameron Meyer, did not take part, as his new team Team Dimension Data was not invited to the race.
Will Clarke (Drapac Professional Cycling) won the prologue for the second consecutive year and was the first rider to lead the race. He lost the lead on the second stage, when the Team Sky riders Chris Froome and Peter Kennaugh broke away to cross the line 17 seconds ahead of the field; Kennaugh won the stage and took the lead. The following two stages ended in sprints (won by Orica–GreenEDGE's Caleb Ewan and UnitedHealthcare's John Murphy respectively), during which Kennaugh increased his lead. On the final stage, Froome attacked on the penultimate ascent of Arthurs Seat, then attacked again on the final climb to win the stage and take the overall victory. Kennaugh was second, 29 seconds behind, with Damien Howson (Orica–GreenEDGE) third, more than a minute behind Froome. Froome also won the mountains classification and Team Sky won the team classification. Chris Hamilton (Australia) was the best young rider, with Benjamin Hill (Attaque Team Gusto) taking the sprints classification.

## Teams

Sixteen teams were invited to take part in the race. These included three UCI WorldTeams, five UCI Professional Continental teams, seven UCI Continental teams and a national team.
UCI WorldTeams
* Team Sky
* Trek–Segafredo
* Orica–GreenEDGE
UCI Professional Continental teams
* Drapac Professional Cycling
* UnitedHealthcare
* Team Novo Nordisk
* ONE Pro Cycling
* Nippo–Vini Fantini
UCI Continental teams
* JLT–Condor
* Avanti IsoWhey Sports
* Kenyan Riders Downunder
* Data#3–Cisco Racing Team p/b Scody
* State of Matter MAAP Racing
* Attaque Team Gusto
* St. George NRS Cycling Team
National teams
* Australia

## Stages

Stage schedule :
| Stage | Date | Route | Distance | Type | Winner |
| P | 3 February | Melbourne | 2.1 km (1 mi) | Prologue | Will Clarke (AUS) |
| 1 | 4 February | Healesville–Healesville | 126 km (78 mi) | Hilly stage | Peter Kennaugh (GBR) |
| 2 | 5 February | Yarra Glen–Moe | 144 km (89 mi) | Hilly stage | Caleb Ewan (AUS) |
| 3 | 6 February | Traralgon–Inverloch | 146 km (91 mi) | Hilly stage | John Murphy (USA) |
| 4 | 7 February | Arthurs Seat–Arthurs Seat | 122 km (76 mi) | Hilly stage | Chris Froome (GBR) |

### Prologue

3 February 2015 – Melbourne, 2.1 km (1.3 mi)
Result of Prologue :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Will Clarke (AUS) | Drapac Professional Cycling | 2m 34" |
| 2 | Caleb Ewan (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 1" |
| 3 | Neil Van der Ploeg (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 2" |
| 4 | Robbie Hucker (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 3" |
| 5 | Joseph Cooper (NZL) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 4" |
| 6 | Sam Bewley (NZL) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 5" |
| 7 | Niccolò Bonifazio (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 5" |
| 8 | Damien Howson (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 5" |
| 8 | Peter Kennaugh (GBR) | Team Sky | + 5" |
| 10 | Anthony Giacoppo (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 5" |

### Stage 1

4 February 2015 – Healesville–Healesville, 126 km (78 mi)
Result of Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Peter Kennaugh (GBR) | Team Sky | 3h 01' 47" |
| 2 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | + 0" |
| 3 | Dion Smith (NZL) | ONE Pro Cycling | + 17" |
| 4 | Anthony Giacoppo (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 17" |
| 5 | Jack Haig (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 17" |
| 6 | Jack Bobridge (AUS) | Trek–Segafredo | + 17" |
| 7 | Adam Phelan (AUS) | Drapac Professional Cycling | + 17" |
| 8 | Alistair Donohoe (AUS) | Australia | + 17" |
| 9 | Damiano Cunego (ITA) | Nippo–Vini Fantini | + 17" |
| 10 | Christian Meier (CAN) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 17" |
General classification after Stage 1 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Peter Kennaugh (GBR) | Team Sky | 3h 04' 16" |
| 2 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | + 7" |
| 3 | Dion Smith (NZL) | ONE Pro Cycling | + 23" |
| 4 | Robbie Hucker (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 25" |
| 5 | Joseph Cooper (NZL) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 26" |
| 6 | Damien Howson (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 27" |
| 7 | Anthony Giacoppo (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 27" |
| 8 | Jack Bobridge (AUS) | Trek–Segafredo | + 28" |
| 9 | Nathan Earle (AUS) | Drapac Professional Cycling | + 28" |
| 10 | Chris Hamilton (AUS) | Australia | + 28" |

### Stage 2

5 February – Yarra Glen–Moe, 144 km (89 mi)
Result of Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Caleb Ewan (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | 3h 29' 06" |
| 2 | Tanner Putt (USA) | UnitedHealthcare | + 0" |
| 3 | Peter Kennaugh (GBR) | Team Sky | + 3" |
| 4 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | + 5" |
| 5 | Jack Bobridge (AUS) | Trek–Segafredo | + 5" |
| 6 | Jack Haig (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 14" |
| 7 | Niccolò Bonifazio (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 25" |
| 8 | John Murphy (USA) | UnitedHealthcare | + 25" |
| 9 | Patrick Shaw (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 25" |
| 10 | Fumiyuki Beppu (JPN) | Trek–Segafredo | + 25" |
General classification after Stage 2 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Peter Kennaugh (GBR) | Team Sky | 6h 33' 21" |
| 2 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | + 13" |
| 3 | Jack Bobridge (AUS) | Trek–Segafredo | + 31" |
| 4 | Jack Haig (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 48" |
| 5 | Dion Smith (NZL) | ONE Pro Cycling | + 52" |
| 6 | Damien Howson (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 53" |
| 7 | Anthony Giacoppo (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 54" |
| 8 | Robbie Hucker (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 54" |
| 9 | Patrick Shaw (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 55" |
| 10 | Joseph Cooper (NZL) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 55" |

### Stage 3

6 February – Traralgon–Inverloch, 146 km (91 mi)
Result of Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | John Murphy (USA) | UnitedHealthcare | 3h 20' 52" |
| 2 | Niccolò Bonifazio (ITA) | Trek–Segafredo | + 0" |
| 3 | Steele Von Hoff (AUS) | ONE Pro Cycling | + 0" |
| 4 | Jesse Kerrison (AUS) | State of Matter MAAP Racing | + 0" |
| 5 | Anthony Giacoppo (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 0" |
| 6 | Caleb Ewan (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 0" |
| 7 | Neil Van Der Ploeg (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 0" |
| 8 | Daniele Colli (ITA) | Nippo–Vini Fantini | + 0" |
| 9 | Alistair Donohoe (AUS) | Australia | + 0" |
| 10 | Luke Rowe (GBR) | Team Sky | + 0" |
General classification after Stage 3 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Peter Kennaugh (GBR) | Team Sky | 9h 54' 13" |
| 2 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | + 13" |
| 3 | Jack Bobridge (AUS) | Trek–Segafredo | + 31" |
| 4 | Jack Haig (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 48" |
| 5 | Dion Smith (NZL) | ONE Pro Cycling | + 52" |
| 6 | Damien Howson (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 53" |
| 7 | Anthony Giacoppo (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 54" |
| 8 | Robbie Hucker (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 54" |
| 9 | Patrick Shaw (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 55" |
| 10 | Joseph Cooper (NZL) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 55" |

### Stage 4

7 February – Arthurs Seat–Arthurs Seat, 122 km (76 mi)
Result of Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | 2h 58' 44" |
| 2 | Damien Howson (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 17" |
| 3 | Jonathan Clarke (AUS) | UnitedHealthcare | + 21" |
| 4 | Chris Hamilton (AUS) | Australia | + 29" |
| 5 | Robbie Hucker (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 29" |
| 6 | Jack Haig (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 29" |
| 7 | Peter Kennaugh (GBR) | Team Sky | + 32" |
| 8 | Jack Bobridge (AUS) | Trek–Segafredo | + 36" |
| 9 | Anthony Giacoppo (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 41" |
| 10 | Dion Smith (NZL) | ONE Pro Cycling | + 43" |
General classification after Stage 4 :
| Rank | Rider | Team | Time |
| 1 | Chris Froome (GBR) | Team Sky | 12h 53' 00" |
| 2 | Peter Kennaugh (GBR) | Team Sky | + 29" |
| 3 | Damien Howson (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 1' 01" |
| 4 | Jack Bobridge (AUS) | Trek–Segafredo | + 1' 04" |
| 5 | Jack Haig (AUS) | Orica–GreenEDGE | + 1' 14" |
| 6 | Jonathan Clarke (AUS) | UnitedHealthcare | + 1' 15" |
| 7 | Robbie Hucker (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 1' 20" |
| 8 | Chris Hamilton (AUS) | Australia | + 1' 23" |
| 9 | Anthony Giacoppo (AUS) | Avanti IsoWhey Sports | + 1' 32" |
| 10 | Dion Smith (NZL) | ONE Pro Cycling | + 1' 32" |

## Classification leadership table

| Stage | Winner | General classification | Sprint classification | Mountains classification | Young rider classification | Most competitive rider | Team classification |
| P | Will Clarke | Will Clarke | Will Clarke | N/A | Caleb Ewan | N/A | Avanti IsoWhey Sports |
| 1 | Peter Kennaugh | Peter Kennaugh | Peter Kennaugh | Chris Froome | Chris Hamilton | Nicholas Katsonis | Team Sky |
| 2 | Caleb Ewan | Peter Kennaugh | Peter Kennaugh | Chris Harper | Chris Hamilton | Chris Harper | Team Sky |
| 3 | John Murphy | Peter Kennaugh | Benjamin Hill | Chris Harper | Chris Hamilton | Benjamin Hill | Team Sky |
| 4 | Chris Froome | Chris Froome | Benjamin Hill | Chris Froome | Chris Hamilton | Fumiyuki Beppu | Team Sky |
| Final | Final | Chris Froome | Benjamin Hill | Chris Froome | Chris Hamilton | | Team Sky |